Flexible metallic tube.



cl RUDOLPH. FLE XIBLE METALLIC. TUBE.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1902.)

No. 7|4,332'. Patented'Nov. 25, I902.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES RUDOLPH, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES B. BRADY,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND CHARLES THOMAS SCHOEN, OF PHILADEL- PHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

FLEXIBLE METALLIC TUBE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,332, dated November25, 1902.

Application filed March 1, 1902. Serial No. 96,312. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES RUDOLPH, manufacturer, a citizen of theRepublic of France, residing at Paris, France, (post-office ble metallictubes formed by rolling up in spiral shape of suitably-shaped strips ofmetal 3 in such manner that the consecutive coils hook one into another.

The object of the invention is to furnish a new kind of tube, in whichthe cross-section of the metal strip is shaped in such manner as to givea tighter and stronger tube than those generally manufactured. With mynew design I can furnish a tube which stands very great pressure ofsteam and other liquid or gaseous fluids and in which no leakages occur.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, in the severalfigures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a viewpartly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the profile ofthe tube of this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on a largerscale, showing the characteristic profile of my invention. Figs. 3 and 4are views similar to Fig. 2, showing modifications. Figs. 5, 6, 7 showthe same profiles as Figs. 2, 3, 4, rolledup inside out to form thetube.

As shown in Fig. 1, the tube is formed by rolling up in spiral shape astrip of metal, of which the profile constituting the essentialcharacter of the invention is fully described below. The successivecoils hook into one another with a certain amount of play, thusrendering the tube flexible.

As shown in Fig. 2, the profile of the tube includes a part a parallelto the center X X of the tube, a part b inclined toward the cen terline, a part 0 parallel to the center line, a part at bent back over thepart c and partly coveringit, a part c perpendicular to part at, a partf parallel to the center line, a part 9 slightly inclined towardthecenter line, and a 50 square or rounded groove 70, in which a lining ofsuitable material (by preference rubber or asbestos) is fitted in orderto insure the tightness of the joint.

By means of the bent-back part at it is possible to combine together theelements of the tube in quite a new manner and efiect a much strongerfastening than has been possible in tubes as made up to the present.This is due partly to the fact that in a certain part of the profilethere are three thicknesses of metal 0 d f superposed and forming partof the same profile, which gives great strength to withstand thetendency of the tube to become untwisted under the strain of pressure orof manipulations, in consequence of which untwisting, as is well knownto persons in this trade, the coils jump over one another and becomeunhooked.

The profile of the tube shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that of Fig. 2,with this difference, that instead of there being only one groove 7.;there are two groovese and Z, which admit of the insertion of twodistinct linings, thus insuring more thoroughly the tightness of thejoint in the case of very high pressure.

The profile of Fig. 4=showsamodification of the profile of Fig. 2. d ispartially bent back over the part c, covering it; but the parts 0 and dare not jointed together, as is the case with the parts 0 and d in.Fig.2. On the contrary there is a space between them into which a horizontalpart m, which is a wing of the groove, is inserted. By this means a newadditional fastening is obtained, which gives greater strength to thetube.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 show that the tube can also be formed by rolling theprofiles represented in Figs. 2, 3, 4 inside out-that is to say, thatthe part of the strip which in the one case is inside the tube is placedoutside in the other, and vice versa.

Let it be understood that I do not limit my invention to the particularprofiles described, and shown in the drawings, but that I reserve tomyself the right to introduce modifications of the elements whichconstitute the profile, provided its chief characteristic ismaintained--namely, the bending back of one of the elements of theprofile.

In the former the part What I claim is- 1. A flexible metallic tube,comprising a shaped strip, the profile of which includes oppositehorizontal elements with intermediate inclined elements, an elementbentback on another and partially covering the latter, and one or moregrooves, the grooves containing a lining, and the strip being rolledspirally and its successive coils hooking into one another.

2. A flexible metallic tube, composed of a spirally-rolled-shaped stripincluding in its profile successively a part parallel to the center lineof the tube, a part inclined toward the center line, another partparallel to the Is the center line, and one or several grooves 20containing a lining.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 12th day ofFebruary, 1902, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES RUDOLPH.

Witnesses:

LOUIS TAILFER, WORLTHER HARTMANN.

